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Coca-Cola mini bottles enter Canadian market

Packaging format now available for Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite

Coca-Cola beverages just got a lot smaller in Canada. Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite now are available in a more compact and resealable 250-ml mini bottle. The new “mini” package size kicks off a year of innovation for Coca-Cola in Canada, which will introduce more than 20 new beverages across the company’s portfolio, including low- and no-calorie drinks, bold flavors and soda water beverages, the company says.

“Mini bottle is one of the most exciting innovations we’ve seen in packaging in a long time. We know that people want more drink options and mini bottle is just one way that we’re meeting that desire,” said Darlene Nicosia, president of Coca-Cola Ltd., in a statement. “And it’s not just smaller package sizes, we’re also working to bring more low- and no-calorie drinks to the market to help Canadians choose the package size and sugar content that makes sense for them.”

The new mini bottle packaging is the first of its kind in North America. Because its small size can affect the carbonation during the packaging process, the mini bottle uses an innovative coating called FreshSafe, which increases shelf life by as much as four months, the company says. The packaging is still 100 percent recyclable just like other PET plastic bottles. The company’s bottling partner, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. invested $20 million to upgrade production line capabilities at the Brampton plant to support mini bottle production. The investment will create three new jobs to start and provides the potential to introduce other smaller packages in the future, it says.

“We are so proud that one of our first announcements as an independent bottling company is that we have invested back in our Brampton facility,” said Todd Parsons, president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd., in a statement. “Having a local spirit and supporting our communities is very important to us and our aim is to grow our capabilities in Canada, which will in turn, grow jobs.”

The investment follows an announcement last spring that Coca-Cola Ltd. is investing $85 million to build a new plant in Peterborough, Ontario, to support production of fairlife ultrafiltered milk. The new facility is on track to begin operations in spring 2020.

The mini bottle will be available in two packages nationwide: a 250 ml-single serving bottle and an eight-pack of 300-ml bottles.

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Based on an IFT short course, Beverage Quality and Safety offers information on the latest beverage industry trends related to products, processing, and packaging technologies - including new generation nutraceutical beverages

Beverage Industry’s September issue features our 2019 Wholesaler of the Year recognition to Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. This issue also features an up close look at the new Future Proof beverage alcohol company as well as a look into the coffee category within the past year. As usual, we rounded up the latest trends in products, packaging and ingredients.